Residents left angry by Greater Manchester house which looks like a 'bombsite' and attracts rats

Angry residents who live next to an abandoned house that looks like a 'bombsite' claim rats which live in the property come into their homes. Locals who live next to the semi-detached property in Wigan, Greater Manchester, say that living next to the house is an 'absolute nightmare.'

The front of the property is littered with bricks and building waste - alongside rusty scaffolding from a half completed extension. The back garden is also badly overgrown and is full of rotting wood which is covered with filthy tarpaulins.

A tree on the back garden is also pushing up the path in the alleyway running between the houses and another tree that was cut down also damaged paving slabs. Shocking photos of the semi-detached house show the huge piles of bricks in the front garden and the badly overgrown trees that are in the back garden.

The property is on Violet Street in the Ince-in-Makerfield area of the town, where a three bed terraced house is worth around £152,000. Margaret Fishwick, 82, who lives next door to the house blames the neglected state of the property next door for rats entering her home.

She said: "I've lived in my house since 1968 and I've never had rats before. I get frightened on my own. What am I paying my council tax for?”

Her son Andy Shaw, 58, regularly visits his mums house and described the property next door as a 'complete bombsite.'

He said: "The next door neighbour hasn't been living in the property for two years. Last Christmas there was a water leak and the property was flooded. All the land's overgrown and it's just an eyesore.

"If it was put right, it could make a great family home for someone. Every other house in the street is spotless. Even though it's a private property, the council should do something about it by taking away the rubbish and sorting the back garden out. They have a duty of care."

Ken, 77, and Christine Tennant, who live on the other side of the house, said they had problems with the resident of the property before he moved out two years ago. It is understood he moved out to live with a family member because of ill-health but Christine says the scaffolding has been up outside for 20 years.

She said: "The scaffolding has been up outside for 20 years from when he started building an extension.

"There are big trees growing on to the alleyway at the back, and a big wall next to our property is crumbling to bits. It's just an absolute nightmare.

"The council have been around about three times but say there's not a lot they can do as it's private property. It’s devaluing people’s homes. Even if we wanted to sell up, we couldn’t because of the state of the house next door."

In response to residents’ concerns, a Wigan Council spokesperson said they will 'provide support and advice' to the neighbours.

They said: "The council is aware of the vacant property and is liaising with the owner and their family. Officers from the pest control team visited the neighbouring property and do not believe the issue is being caused by the condition of the property next door.

"Our officers will continue to provide support and advice, and the resident has been advised to contact United Utilities for further support."